The prez himself is there to hand out the inaugural award for best Hyundai concept from the 2012 SEMA show

President's Choice award

Late last week Hyundai president John Krafcik managed to take a well-deserved break from the automakers current EPA mileage brouhaha to present the company's first SEMA President's Choice award to the JP Edition Hyundai Veloster Turbo built by tuner and designer John "John P" Pangilinan.

The first Hyundai SEMA tuner to receive the "President's Choice award for best Hyundai SEMA Concept", his JP Edition Veloster, which was constructed in consultation with paint supplier BASF, incorporates a wild mint green exterior finish.

According to John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America, "Selecting our first SEMA President's Choice wasn't easy. Hyundai's booth was loaded with seven innovative concepts building upon our popular Veloster, Genesis Coupe, and Elantra GT models. In the end, though, I couldn't resist the JP Edition Veloster. The distinctive mint green paint, wide fender flares and blacked-out wheel package was just a cleanly-integrated overall vehicle concept. Congratulations, John!"

Pangilinan began with the Veloster Turbo's 1.6-liter, direct-injected inline-4 engine. He then added an ARK performance exhaust, KW coilover suspension, Whiteline sway bars and anti-lift kit, and one of Brembo's big brake kits.

Exterior modifications included TS Designs fender flares by designer Jon Sibal and Blacked-out Ray's Gram Lights Xtreme57 Wheels fitted with Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tires.

JP Edition Veloster modifications

Powertrain
ARK Performance Exhaust

Exterior
BASF Mint Green Paint painted by Auto Explosion
TS Designs Metal Fender Flares designed by Jon Sibal

Chassis/Suspension
Brembo big brake kit
KW Coilovers with ARK Performance lowering springs
Whiteline sway bars, anti-lift caster kit and end links
Ray's Gram Lights Xtreme57 Wheels – 19 x 9.5 inches
Toyo Tires Proxes T1 Sport - 265/30 R19

Interior
Recaro Cross Sportster CS Seats with Takata Harnesses
Re-upholstery by Infinite Auto Design
Alpine Electronics System built by BP Auto Sound
V-LEDs Lighting

Images courtesy of Hyundai and newspressusa.com